12/7/23, 8:21 PM Bg. 4.

Library » Bhagavad-gītā As It Is » Chapter Four

Bg. 4.2

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।

स कालेनेह महता योगे नष्टः परन्तप ॥ २ ॥

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ paran-tapa

Synonyms

evam — thus; paramparā — by disciplic succession; prāptam — received;

imam — this science; rāja-ṛṣayaḥ — the saintly kings; viduḥ — understood;
saḥ — that knowledge; kālena — in the course of time; iha — in this world;
mahatā — great; yogaḥ — the science of one’s relationship with the
Supreme; naṣṭaḥ — scattered; param-tapa — O Arjuna, subduer of the
enemies.

Translation

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic
succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in
course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as
it is appears to be lost.

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Purport

It is clearly stated that the Gītā was especially meant for the saintly kings
because they were to execute its purpose in ruling over the citizens.
Certainly Bhagavad-gītā was never meant for the demonic persons, who
would dissipate its value for no one’s benefit and would devise all types of
interpretations according to personal whims. As soon as the original
purpose was scattered by the motives of the unscrupulous commentators,
there arose the need to reestablish the disciplic succession. Five thousand
years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession
was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the Gītā
appeared to be lost. In the same way, at the present moment also there are
so many editions of the Gītā (especially in English), but almost all of them
are not according to authorized disciplic succession. There are innumerable
interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of
them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, although
they make a good business on the words of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This spirit is demonic,
because demons do not believe in God but simply enjoy the property of the
Supreme. Since there is a great need of an edition of the Gītā in English, as it
is received by the paramparā (disciplic succession) system, an attempt is
made herewith to fulfill this great want. Bhagavad-gītā – accepted as it is – is
a great boon to humanity; but if it is accepted as a treatise of philosophical
speculations, it is simply a waste of time.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder-Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
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